Novice questions. I noticed that the flight path take the plane North near land. Is that due to the curvature of the earth, or is it intentional to stay near land?
@matt- Here is a nice great-circle plotter that is aviation oriented.. http://gc.kls2.com/ The path is a straight line although the compass heading will constantly change...the exception is a directly N-S track.
ETOPS also involves the aircraft certification, maintenance, equipment, etc. Some airlines have "ETOPS" on the lower fuselage for ramp crew awareness. ETOPS applies over isloated or rugged land areas, not just over water.
Now I am a BIG fan of all things USA. I am not a USAer. But I know pedigree when I encounter it the and the quality of a Boeing with a GE set of motors is marginally ahead of an AB34.
That's if you rip out the FMS of course.
What I really want to know about the 787 is how this composite monoque shell and frame will handle 2g turbulence at minus 60C.
Large composite structures are nothing new and there is a large and growing base of knowledge and experience. One amazing example is the space shuttle liquid tank which is far colder than -60c ready for launch. Even aluminum isn't the same material at -60c versus 20c.
The shortest distance between two places is always a straight line. The problem is that a straight line on a round object doesn't appear straight when flattened out for this type of map.
The way it appeared, it wasn't straight. Matt asked a question, I gave a quick answer without quoting a text on navigation and map projections. I haven't looked into the 787 details but I don't think ETOPS bothers it any more than a B767. We can give easy answers or baffle people with BS.
Any aircraft over ocean with less than 3 engines is required to always be with a FAA set distance from a place to land after the loss of one engine. It detailed in each airline's FAA approved OPS SPECS. You can find more in the FARs...
You sure about that? Not that they were that far away from a place to set down in case of "what if...?" You're aware that ETOPs regulations are in place not just for a mechancial failure, but to take into account something like fuel contamination which could easily affect BOTH engines.
Are you sure ETOPS does not apply to freighter flights, only passenger carrying revenue flights? If there were no passengers or revenue freight on board, I agree that FAR Part 91 would apply on this delivery flight.
